Our senior pastor recently preached about Joshua’s last words in his sermon titled “Cling to the Lord Your God” on Joshua 23, in which Joshua delivers his final words. In his message, our pastor shared the last words of a few others, such as:

• Last words are for fools who haven’t said enough. Karl Marx
• Live in Christ, die in Christ, and the flesh need not fear death. John Knox
• This is the end – for me, the beginning of life. Dietrich Bonhoeffer
• It is Finished. Jesus

I remember being fascinated some years ago reading Walter Isaacson’s biography of Steve Jobs, in which he recounted Jobs’, who was not a Christian, final words as being: Oh wow! Oh wow! Oh wow!

I’ve previously written about what our legacies will be, and what our message to the next generation will be. Our pastor’s sermon got me to thinking about the idea of “last words”, understanding that in many instances – including those of my parents – we never get to hear the last words of a loved one as a result of end of life issues.

Have you ever thought out what you would like your last words to be? Think of being in your bed surrounded by your spouse, children and grandchildren. What would you like your final words to be if you would have the opportunity?

I think of the Apostle Paul’s words in 2 Timothy 4:7. Although they were not his final words, they were probably some of his last. He wrote:

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Wouldn’t those be wonderful words to end our lives with?